The underwriting criteria used by insurers are normally based on their experience of underwriting particular risks. This includes trends in the level, frequency and cost of claims for particular segments of risks of the insurance market and classes of risk are a matter for judgment by individual private insurance companies. Having regard to the different quotations given to male and female drivers, I understand that statistics supplied by the National Roads Authority indicate that there is a far higher incidence of road accidents among young male drivers than females. In 1999, in the 18 to 34 age group, 63 male drivers were killed and 1,225 males injured while the corresponding figures for female drivers indicate that five were killed and 710 females were injured. These statistics suggest that younger male drivers pose a greater underwriting risk than their female counterparts.
I established the Motor Insurance Advisory Board in 1998, to examine the factors that influence the cost of motor insurance in particular, the relationship between the premiums being levied on different categories of drivers and the claims experience of those categories. The difference in the rating criteria for males and females will be one of the issues to be included in the final report to be submitted to me, by the end of this year.
Any individual who considers that he or she has experienced discrimination contrary to the Equal Status Act, 2000, may refer a complaint to the Director of Equality Investigations for investigation or mediation.